The issue of lowballing... What does that mean?


I LOVE Audiogon. I have purchased and sold many items here and it is a wonderful resource for audio nuts of every variety. Big solid state, tubes, analog, vinyl? Sure it all goes.

So I see posts that are make offer but the seller says "lowballers" will be ignored, vilified, cursed and cussed. So why have a make offer sale? Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. It doesn't matter what you paid for it, or how much you love it. And why be upset? Declining requires one mouse click. Countering maybe five or six clicks or keystrokes. Just curious as this is a commerce site.

I have received offers that seemed really low to me, but I am still happy to have interest and I always counter offer. I recently sold a Clearaudio TT for a lot less than I thought it was worth. But all the offers were low and I had to rethink my view. It ultimately sold as a real bargin but I'm happy and so is the buyer.

Your thoughts?
128x128superbike

Showing 5 responses by simao

I recently got a low offer on an amp I'm selling. When I declined the offer as being too low, I was berated for being one of the reasons why audiogon is now ruined.

good times!
I think fixed price items tend to get way less offers then negotiable items. Plus, there's something fun about the act of the haggle.

Truthfully, I look forward to haggling when I sell something. I remember a while ago I listed Rogue monoblocks and got an email a day later with the message, "I'll take 'em." No haggling, no initial lower offer; just a straight up offer for the going price. Of course I sold them, but that's the only time that's ever happened. Other than that, there's always the give-and-take element. That's half the fun.

I just find it odd that someone would see something offered for, say, $950, and make an offer of $600 or something like that. I mean, really? At least pretend you know how to play the game.
Superbike,

Apparently, yes. Because I wasn't willing to take 60% off the asking price, I had "ruined" audiogon for all those who wanted good stuff at far below market value.

About ten years ago I sold off most of my first primary system as my divorce unfolded. Maggies, ARC's, Blue Circles, Wadias -- all sold for either the asking price or maybe ten percent below.

Was it the booming (but about to stop booming) economy that caused people to pay the asking price or close to it? I don't know. I do know, though, that I never received a ridiculous lowball offer like I have recently.
I forget who said "Something's worth whatever the buyer pays for it" (and I guess I could google it, but whatever), but it's completely true. If I found good ARC Vs-110 and I had funds, I'd simply click-on the "Buy Now" button without a second thought.

But here's another question - which may be better suited to its own thread. Did dealers selling products for the full retail price always exist on audiogon? I don't seem to remember them having as much of a presence 5 or 8 years ago.

However, Viridian has a point inasmuch as most of us aren't businesses. We're private owners and hobbyists who are always looking for something new or a different sound, etc. Again, it's the art of the deal, of the haggle, of the "hey, here's something I want; what're you willing to accept?". But it should never devolve into moronic name calling.
So I've re-noticed something recently which is probably old hat to most here, but...

Price is relative, right? Like, I may look at a good Easton or Worth baseball bat priced at $399 and think, "Umm, that's way too expensive." Or I may think about getting a dedicated gaming laptop, but balk at the $899 price tag. Or worry if I'm paying too much for a new Shop-Vac when I could get a better deal at Ye Olde Big Box store.

But I'll cheerfully Watch and even Make Offer on a $2000 piece of ho-end equipment after researching and/or hearing it. That much would pay for the Easton, the gaming laptop, and the Shop-Vac - with some change to spare, and yet that perspective is skewed when it comes to stuff on Audiogon - whether I'm buying or selling.

I'm toying with getting an Oppo 105 and since most of them are in the $850 range, I'd honestly feel guilty if I bid anything under $700. Like, I;d feel obligated to send a note of explanation with the bid. Same with things I'm selling, especially if I've done the Bluebook research.

I'm glad Agon has that 55% Lowball cut-off, though I think that's much too low. If someone offered me 55% of my asking price, their bid would be ignored without a doubt.